Once again this community is grappling with a
"scandal" involving our hard-earned tax dollars being
unaccounted for.
Neureka was touted as the antecedent to a
larger self-sufficient local biotechnology industry. Nine
years, and millions of public dollars later, Neureka, is
done.
Many argue that this should be viewed as a
learning experience. I argue the citizenry of Greater Sudbury
have had more than their fair share of experience with their
money being ill spent with little accountability.
Our city council lost millions in their
experiment with co-generation plant ownership.
Moreover, money has been thrown at a proposed
bio-diesel plant and wind farms that have yet not come to
volition, to name a few.
An entire book can be written about the
one-hospital site construction project and what went horribly
wrong there.
There is an unprecedented movement in Canada
for the demanding of accountability. The Conrad Black case is
one example of many that confirms shareholders have had enough
with secrecy and lack of transparency. We as shareholders of
our city must command the same degree of accountability of our
politicians that investors expect from the board room.
Neureka must be the final straw. Greater
Sudbury, if anything, must evolve into a city that doesn't turn
a blind eye to enigmatic, quasi-public enterprise. I look to
city council, a co-founder of Neureka, to show fortitude and
initiate a public disclosure of where every penny of public
money was spent by Neureka. Sudburians have subsidized this
Neureka venture through escalating property taxes. We deserve
to see the books and someone or some group needs to be held
responsible, who ever they may be.
Joe Cimino
Greater Sudbury